Nepal

Welcome to Rustic Pathways in Nepal!

Join us in the land of snowcapped mountains, rushing rivers, and never-ending adventure. Visit famous heritage sites, ride into the jungle in search of wildlife, and trek into the mountains to reach awe-inspiring vistas. Learn local dance steps and cooking techniques as you immerse yourself in village life and culture.

Nepal is located between India and China, with a mild summer climate and strong monsoon season. From peaks to valleys, our programs offer exciting adventure and deep cultural immersion into Nepali life. Service projects include education enrichment and infrastructure development with local schools.

Group Travel in Nepal

We custom design our Journeys to meet your school’s requirements, so please contact us to discuss the type of experience you are looking for. As a general guide, here are some of the potential elements of your Journey through Nepal:

One of the best experiences of my life. I highly rate it and the rustic staff were awesome

Student in school group who travelled to Kununurra in 2017

Service Projects

Immerse yourself in Nepali culture through homestay and service work. You’ll live with a local family and work on a service project selected by the community. Rustic Pathways has developed various long-term partnerships with communities and local organisations in Nepal. These projects may range from earthquake relief, to construction, to education enrichment. Some of our service projects that you could support include:

Non-Government Organisation: Learn about challenges facing rural Nepalese villages and work with a NGO to support sustainable solutions.

Education: Connect with Nepali youth as you facilitate English activities and learn local games and dances.

Infrastructure: Engage with the ongoing Build Back Better project working to rebuild and repair damage done by the 2015 earthquake.

Education and Cultural Exploration

Learn local dance steps, games, and cooking techniques as you immerse yourself in village life and culture. Travelling with our local staff will provide students with first-hand insights into life in this country. You may like to incorporate some of the following experiences into your Journey:

Sports: Play cricket or soccer with village students and enjoy evening chaya with your homestay families.

UNESCO World Heritage sites: Visit the famous Hindu and Buddhist UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley in the ancient towns of Bhaktapur and Patan.

Swayambhunath: Explore Swayambhunath temple, a famous Buddhist monument and pilgrimage site, also known as the monkey temple.

Durbar Square: Learn about the Malla and Shah rules of Kathmandu valley.

Asan bazaar: Here you’ll get a guided tour of the local market. Sample Nepali spices and herbs and understand the economies of local clothing and Tibetan wholesale.

Boudhanath Stupa: Tour the locus of Buddhist monasteries in the Kathmandu valley.

Adventure and Challenge

Experience the incredible beauty of this adventure capital. Adventure and challenge is inherent to every Journey, however, if you are looking to physically challenge your students through a specific activity, you may opt to include:

White water raft: Head to Trishuli River, named for the powerful trident of the Hindu god Shiva, for rafting from the middle Himalayan range down to the tropical jungles of the Nepali plains.

Safari: Ride into the jungles on a Jeep safari through Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Keep your eyes peeled for rhinos, leopards, crocodiles, elephants, and the elusive Bengal tiger.

Trek: Head off to the adventure capital of Pokhara and the incredible Annapurna Conservation Area. Take in Phewa Lake in Pokhara and trek into the Annapurnas with stays at small Nepali villages in tea houses along the way.

Bungee jump: Get your adrenaline pumping with some bungee jumping!

Mountain bike: Nepal is known for its amazing mountain bike trails.

Accommodations

Homestays: Students can homestay with local families in remote villages.

Hotels: A variety of 3, 4 & 5 star hotels in cities and towns.

Tea houses: Rustic Pathways uses this accommodation style in some of our smaller towns we visit.

Tents: Camping in shared tents when in remote places is a great way to experience Nepal.

Sample Itinerary

Himalayan Village Life

Day 1

Arrive into Kathmandu International Airport where you will find your Rustic Pathways leaders waiting for you outside of baggage claim. From the airport, you’ll be transported to our base hotel in Kathmandu. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Kathmandu and get to know your Rustic Pathways leaders during an evening of orientation.

Day 2

Today we’ll drive to Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city. The drive takes six-hours but passes through some incredible scenery, so sit back and enjoy the country side of Nepal pass by. This evening, enjoy a walk through the streets of Pokhara.

Day 3

Wake up for a hot breakfast with the sun and get ready for some more action. Today we’ll explore all Pokhara has to offer, including a visit to the Peace Stupa and Phewa Lake. In the evening, we’ll have our final trek orientation over a delicious dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants.

Day 4

After breakfast, put on your trekking shoes and get into to the bus for a short drive to Nayapul, the starting point for the trek. Once we arrive Nayapul, sip on some Nepali tea and relax a bit before starting our trek. We’ll start out slowly walking through local villages and then through some steep patches to reach Hile.

Enjoy rest of the day by strolling through the nearby villages and interacting with locals.

Day 5

After early breakfast start your day with a steep ascent to Ulleri where you get your first view of the Himalayas, then continue through Asia’s biggest rhododendron forests. You can observe colourful flowers while you trek and reach your destination Ghorepani after walking 6-7 hours and stop for the night.

Day 6

Today, you’ll wake up at the crack of dawn for an early climb to the summit of Poon Hill (3200 m). Here, we’ll watch the sun rise across a magnificent Himalayan panorama and sit in awe of the highest mountain range in the entire world. After breakfast follow a long ridge through rhododendron forests to Deurali. You will then walk through impressive river gorges with the chance to see Langur monkeys in the trees. Your destination today is Tadapani.

Day 7

Today after breakfast you will trek back to Nayapul and later drive to Pokhara. Check-in to your hotel and relax, catch up on sleep and enjoy a hot shower.

Day 8

After breakfast hop on the bus for the ride back to Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu and spend your evening participating in a group discussion about your trekking experience.

Day 9

Today, after a well deserved sleep-in, head out to explore some of Kathmandu’s most exciting landmarks and attractions. First will be stop Durbar Square, where you will learn about the Malla and Shah rules of Kathmandu valley. Next it’s off to Asan bazaar. Here you’ll get a guided tour of the local market and learn how to make sense of the seeming chaos of people, bicycles, and motorbikes. Sample Nepali spices and herbs and understand the economies of local clothing and Tibetan wholesale items.

Break for lunch outside the market and then head to the beautiful stupa of Swayambunath. Perched atop a hill in the Kathmandu valley, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a famous Buddhist monument and pilgrimage site. On your way up to the stupa, keep you eyes peeled for the holy monkeys that play in the surrounding forest and bathe in the fountains of Swayambunath. Learn about the history of this monument, then watch as the sun sets over the Himalayan peaks outside the valley.

Days 10 to 14

Today, head to the nearby Rayale Village in Kavrepalanchowk district, just outside the Kathmandu valley where you’ll be based for the next five days. During your time in the village, you’ll stay with a local Nepali family and dig into your service projects. The specific projects will be defined closer to the program start date, as that will allow us to better assess the needs of the village, but could include construction, education, or environmental service.

During the days, work hard on your service projects and in the evenings, spend time soaking in the deep but friendly culture of Nepal. Learn Nepali cooking with your homestay family, play games in the village, and continue to debrief your experiences with your program leaders.

On your last day in the village, celebrate your time with a farewell party. Put on traditional Nepali dress and be prepared for singing and dancing – a favourite Nepali pastime.

Day 15

This morning, say goodbye to your homestay family and hop on the bus for the ride back to Kathmandu. After a group photograph and some Namastes with Team Nepal, it will be time to board your flight home. We hope the people you’ve met, experiences you’ve had and lessons you’ve learned will help guide you in all future endeavours. Safe travels and we hope to see you again soon!

Special Requests

Please chat to us if you have any special requests that you would like included in your Journey.
There is nothing too big, small, or out-of-the-box that we can’t handle.

What Next?

Please email us at rustic@rusticpathways.com.au to start designing your Journey!
We would be delighted to partner with your school to support the global education of your students.